Gentlemen had said, however good and virtuous the petitioners might be, it ought to have no effect upon the petition; if this were true, he hoped when they were represented as the worst of men, that representation was not meant to influence their decision on the question. Mr. T. could not conceive for what purpose they were carried to Europe, to witness the scenes which had taken place there for the last ten years. Was this, he asked, the state of society? If he thought so, if it had the faintest resemblance of what was taking place there, he would fly from it to the uttermost parts of the earth, and there make his habitation. Mr. T. wished an inquiry to take place; there was a part of the United States in which slavery was tolerated—some of the members from those parts thought it not right; there were other parts of the Union which disclaimed it. These two opposing principles were like two opposite powers in mechanism, which produced rest; but, the more frequently the subject was looked into, the more mitigated would be its effects.
The question was taken for the second reading of the petition, and carried—53 votes being in the affirmative.
Mr. Gallatin moved that it be referred to a select committee.
Mr. Coit wished it to be referred to the Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred the petition on the subject of kidnapping negroes, &c.
Mr. Rutledge thought a select committee would be best, as stage-plays, cock-fighting, horse-racing, and other evils, would, of course, be considered.
The question for reference to a select committee was put and carried—59 members being in the affirmative.
Five members being agreed upon to form the committee, the Speaker named Messrs. Sitgreaves, Nicholas, Dana, Schureman, and S. Smith, for the purpose.
The House adjourned.
Friday, December 1.
A new member, to wit: Joseph Heister, returned to serve in this House as a member for the State of Pennsylvania, in the room of George Ege, who has resigned his seat, appeared, produced his credentials, and took his seat in the House.